On HTML5 and the Group That Rules the Web

You might have read that, on October 28th,Â W3C officially recommended HTML5. And you might know that this has something to do with apps and the Web. The question is: Does this concern you?

The answer, at least for citizens of the Internet, is yes: itÂ isÂ worth understanding both what HTML5 is and who controls the W3C. And it is worth knowing a little bit about the mysterious, conflict-driven cultural process whereby HTML5 became a â€œrecommendation.â€ Billions of humans will use the Web over the next decade, yet not many of those people are in a position to define what is â€œthe Webâ€ and what isnâ€™t. The W3CÂ is in that position. So who is in this cabal? What is it up to? Who writes the checks?